COVID-19 is changing life as we know it. Immigrants are particularly vulnerable because they are more likely to be uninsured and lower-income thus unable to afford costs when health care needs arise. Trump-era policies such as increased immigration enforcement – including at health care facilities despite the sensitive locations policy still in place – and public charge have resulted in fear of accessing any government provided benefits and services. In fact, even before the public charge rule was finalized, the Urban Institute found that 42% of immigrant families reporting chilling effects cited Medicaid or CHIP as the benefit they did not participate in.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration  Services (part of the Department of Homeland Security) recently announced that testing, treatment, and preventive care related to Coronavirus will not be considered in a public charge inadmissibility determination. But this response seems inadequate without a clear statement that the public charge rule is suspended during the pandemic. Attorney General Bob Ferguson and others have called on the administration to put a pause on the public charge rule.

Washington State and King County are doing their part to increase access to care and services: 

• The Health Benefit Exchange has opened a special enrollment period through April 8, 2020 and is reminding consumers they may be eligible for different health care coverage options if household income is impacted due to the virus.
• The Health Care Authority is actively pursuing Medicaid Waivers and other authorities to reduce barriers to coverage and care and has expanded its emergency Medicaid program to cover COVID-19 related testing and care regardless of immigration status.
• The Insurance Commissioner’s Office issued an emergency order requiring all carriers it regulates, including short-term limited duration plans, to cover COVID-19 testing before applying deductibles; carriers must also suspend cost-sharing and prior authorization requirements.
• Seattle-King County Public Health has COVID-19 public health recommendations that are available in 15 languages.
• Hospital charity care (financial assistance) is still available for hospital based care for individuals with limited income.

Viruses do not discriminate. Now more than ever, access to health care and other economic supports is critical for everyone in our communities.

–Huma Zarif, NoHLA Staff Attorney